Floaters, Flashes, Retinal Tear Before we talk about the above problems, it is important to understand how the eye works when it is working properly. The eye is like a camera. When you take a The vitreous gel that fills the inside of the eye picture, the lens in front of the camera allows light becomes more liquid-like as we age. When through and focuses that light on the film that this happens the gel moves inside the eye, in covers the back inside wall of the camera. When an opposite direction, every time the eye the light hits the film, a picture is taken. moves. Often times a person can see the gel- The eye works in much the same way. The liquid interface as a floater, cobweb, string, front part of the eye (the cornea, pupil, and etc. If the gel tugs on the retina it can lens) are clear and allow light to pass through. stimulate the retina and cause a person to see The cornea and lens focus that light on the back flashing lights. If the gel tugs hard enough inside wall of the eye. Light then passes through on the retina, it can create a tear in the the jelly-like substance (called the vitreous) in the retina. center of the eye. A thin layer of tissue called the retina lines the inside back wall of the eye. The retina is like the film in a camera. It is the seeing tissue. When the focused light hits the retina, a AS WE AGE THE VITREOUS TURNS picture is taken. This picture is sent to the brain FROM A GEL STATE TO A through the optic nerve. This is how we see. LIQUID STATE VITREOUS TUGS ON THE RETINA CREATING A TEAR IN THE RETINA If left untreated, a tear in the retina can allow 2. CRYOPEXY, unlike laser, involves liquid gel to pass under the retina and peel the a different delivery mechanism and retina from the eye wall. When this happens this is uses cold energy instead of heat to called a retinal detachment. A retinal create a reaction. detachment can cause a loss in vision or a loss of peripheral vision depending on the location of the retinal detachment. Cryoprobe RETINAL TEAR TREATMENT Cryopexy of retinal tear The goal of treating a retinal tear is to create Both forms of treatment have the same an adhesion of the attached retina surrounding goal, they are just delivered in a different the tear to the under-lying eye structure. This fashion. The doctor will decide which can be accomplished in one of two ways. treatment is best fit for a patient’s 1. LASER PHOTOTHERAPY involves circumstance. Factors that influence the using light energy that is transformed into choice are the location of the tear, size of thermal energy thus causing a reaction of the tear, presence of blood etc. Both the treated area. This results in an adhesion treatments are relatively quick and your to form and hopefully will prevent fluid from doctor will explain pros and cons of the migrating thru the tear under the retina. treatment selected for the individual patient, as well as what to expect after Contact lens treatment. Treatment with laser or cryo will not Retinal tear get rid of floaters or flashing lights. Both serve a single purpose of walling off the tear and preventing a retinal detachment Laser of retinal tear .